Tombstone epitaph., 1887-11-26
cocHIsR COUNTY.
Can Its Vast Area of Rich Lands bs Success
 fully lrrigateds

Can It's Vast Area of Rich Lands bs Success
 fully lrrisatedf
 Wishing reply to the above question from an authoritative source, few days ago we addressed a note to MT. H. C. Howe, the well.known civil engineer, and received the following reply:
 TOMBSTONE, A. T., Nov. a5, 1887.
 EDITOR EPITAPH:-In answer to your letter of the 2Ist inst, in regard to the feasibility of storing water in reservoirs, in the foot hills and mountain ranges in this Territory, and especially in this county, for the purposes of irrigation, will state my views from the limited ex- animation have made upon this subject. First, our location. Cochise County is situated in the southeast corner of Ari- zona, bounded on the south by Mexico, east by New Mexico, and on the conti- mental divide, the streams and springs forming the head waters of the Rio Grande flowing to the east of us and the streams and springs forming the head waters of the Gila and San Pedro flow ing north and west, empting into the Colorado, and the streams and springs forming the head waters of the Sonora and Yaqui, flowing south and west, emptying into the Gulf of California. This county is traversed upon the ex- ,reme northeast by the Peloncillo range; then by the Pinaleno, Dos Cabezas and Chiricahua .mountains; next by the Ga luri range, Limestone, Dragon and | Mule mountains, and along the west by the Santa Catalina, Sierra Colorado, Whetstone, Mustang and Huachuca | mountains. The general direction oi these different ranges of mountains is north and south.
 Between the Peloncillo and the Pinal- enc, Dos Cabezas and Chiricahua range lays the broad San Simon valley with q drainage to the NNW. This valley, be- low the rolling foothills about fifteen miles wide and over eighty miles in length, over one.half or about two hun dred thousand acres, can be utilized and cultivated by irrigation.
 The Sulphur Spring valley, lying be- tween the Pinaleno, Dos Cabezas and Chiricahua mountains on the east, and the Galiuro, Limestone, Dragon and Mule mountains on the west,is about ter miles wide and nearly one hundred mile: long, three.f .fourths of which can be util- ized and cultivated by irrigation. Out great advantage had in this valley is th' immense body of water flowing few feet below it's surface. This valle, drains to the south and forms one of th' sources of the Yaqui river.
 The San Pedro valley, lying west O the Galiuro, Limestone, Dragon ant Mule mountains, and east of the Hua- chuca, Whetstone and Santa Catalins mountains, is over one hundred miles 1T length, but varying in width. This val ley, though not as wide as the Sulphur Spring or San Simon valleys. has aloni the San Pedro river fine bottom lands, ; great portion of which are improved.
 The mountain ranges above described are broad and mere or less broken up forming reservoirs in themselves, wher' water is stored, to what extent can enl! be determined by careful investigation and exploration.
 There is no question as to the practi cability of storing water in these noun tains and along the valleys by taking ad vantage of the many points where natur has constructed reservoirs. These prob lens can easily be solved by careful ex animation and exploration by any care full engineer. H. G. HOWE. |